Joe Murphy Jr. tries out the synthetic ice at a demonstration Wednesday morning for town officials. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

While officials were impressed with the demonstration of a synthetic ice skating rink Wednesday morning in downtown Riverhead, the question of where the best location would be for the rink is still undecided. (more…)

BARBARAELLEN KOCH FILE PHOTO | The temporary ice skating rink at Stotzky Park will open for the first time at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Riverhead Town’s temporary ice skating rink in Stotzky Park will have ice skating for the first time Thursday as temperatures dipped below freezing long enough for the first time this winter.

The town brought the plastic liner and PVC piping needed to convert the roller skating rink into an ice rink last year, but it never got cold enough to make ice, so the rink was never used for ice skating.

But that’s changed this year.

Riverhead Recreation Department Superintendent Ray Coyne has announced that the town “will officially be opening the gate to the ice rink” at 2 p.m. Thursday.

It’s free to skate, but ice skates are not provided, Mr. Coyne said.

The rink will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily until the temperature rises above 32 degrees, he said.